Scrubbing and cleaning device.



' Witnesses PATENTED FEB. 26, 1907. A. J. VAN DRAKE. A SGRUBBING AND CLEANING DEVICE. PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP APR. 2-4, 1905.

ALFRED J. VAN DRAKE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

SCRUBBING AND CLEANING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 26, 1907.

Application filed April 24,1905. Serial No. 257,211.

T0 at, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED J. VAN DRAKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Scrubbing and Cleaning Devices, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device which is especially designed for scrubbing and cleaning fibrous and textile goods. I t It consists in an arrangement of a series of flexible pockets capable of compression, so as to produce a vacuum and suction through the goods while being moved over them with pressure. My invention also comprises details of construction which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the figure is a perspective view of my device.

In the ordinary process of hand-washing it is customary to rub the goods over corrugated washboards or like surfaces, by which with the aid of water and some detergent substance the scrubbing effect serves to remove dirt.

It is the object of my invention to provide a device which is suitable for hand use and which is provided with a surface of contact by which the scrubbing is effectually produced without wear upon the hands of the operator and which at the same time acts to produce a compression and suction which continually forces the water and soap through the goods with the effect of a very rapid and perfect cleansing thereof.

It will be understood that the device may be made in various forms.

As shown in the drawing, A is a base or back portion which is here shown as curved, so as to have a convex surface for the attach ment of the operative part 2. The part A will be provided with some well-known form of grip or handholdas, for instance, the edges may be grooved or channeled, as at 3, to form a grip for the fingers. The part 2 consists of rubber or other equivalent flexible compressible material formed with a series of integral pockets 4, the bottoms of which pockets are contiguous to the outer convex surface of the holder A. These pockets may be made of any desired shape in cross-section and of any suitable or desired depth, and the outer ends are open, as shown.

As shown in the present case, the pockets are made rectangular in cross-section. The webs or partitions between these pockets is sufiiciently thin so that by pressure upon the holder the outer edges of the pockets are easily, bent and compressed and form a very effective scrubber for goods over which the device is reciprocated. The compression also serves to force out air from the pockets, and the subsequent expansion produces a vacuum and suction which is very effective in drawing the soap and water through the goods over which the device is being moved. It thus acts as a very efficient scrubber and also to alternately force and suck the water through the goods, and thus produce a thorough cleansing of the same. It will be understood that the pockets or cells may, if desired, increase in depth from the ends of the device toward the center, as shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A hand rubbing and washing device consisting of a series of connected, elastic, impermeable cells, having open mouths on one side, and a rigid back and handle to which the opposite side is affixed and by which the device may be reciprocated and the cells alternately compressed and expanded.

2. In a hand scrubbing device for clothing, a curved rigid back and handle, and an elastic, impermeable, cellular structure fixed to the convex surface of the handle, said cellular structure including cells having outwardlyopening mouths and yielding, compressible division-walls.

3. In a hand scrubbing device, a curved rigid back and handle, and an elastic, impermeable, cellular structure, secured to the convex surface of the handle, said cellular structure including cells having open mouths and yielding compressible walls, and increasing in depth from the ends toward the center. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED J. VAN DRAKE. Witnesses:

GEO. H. STRONG, HENRY P. Tmooo. 

